Council debates Metro Cruise reimbursement after organizer proposes $7,500 annual fee

Brandon Simmons, speaking on behalf of Metro Cruise, asked the Wyoming City Council on May 11 to approve a $7,500 flat fee for seven years to help reimburse the city for public‑safety and related costs tied to the event.

The request came during a lengthy discussion of event costs and public‑safety staffing. Simmons said the event has grown over two decades, highlighted local business participation and charitable partnerships, and argued that a $7,500 fee would make the event financially sustainable without charging residents for attendance. "We'd like to institute a $7,500 flat fee for 7 years," Simmons told the council, noting the event traditionally offered free admission and services to residents.

Why it matters: Council staff said the city incurred roughly $42,000 in overtime and public‑safety costs for Metro Cruise in a recent year and asked the council whether organizers should reimburse some or all of that expense. Police and public‑safety staffing decisions determine whether the city must post large numbers of overtime hours and call on mutual‑aid partners.

Council members pressed for more detail before making a decision. Wyoming Police Chief Koster told the council that the department logged about 510 officer hours on Metro Cruise in 2024 and about 666.5 hours for Wyoming alone in 2025, with roughly 663 mutual‑aid officer hours also provided in 2025. "In 2024, we had 510 hours from Wyoming police services," the chief said; "in 2025, we had 666 and a half hours from just Wyoming," adding that the higher staffing level reflected both better voluntary response and higher wages.

Several council members said a flat fee might be easier to administer but asked whether a percentage‑based or stair‑step approach would be fairer. One councilor proposed making a final decision contingent on seeing Simmons's event budget; staff recommended that Simmons provide his operating numbers so the council could compare city costs, event revenue and sponsorships before committing. Simmons agreed to provide a budget to staff for review.

The council did not set a final fee at the meeting. Staff and council directed John to circulate Simmons's budget when received and to return the item for further discussion. The council indicated it would consider options that include a percentage‑based reimbursement, an incremental 'stair‑step' schedule, or a flat fee — but asked for concrete financial data before choosing a path forward.

Next steps: Simmons will submit the Metro Cruise budget to city staff; staff will share it with the council and the council will revisit the fee before awarding a contract or setting a payment schedule.